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News Commentary Opinion
Absent Tiger Woods puts grooves center stage
By ED TRAVIS, Editor FrontPageGolf
By ED TRAVIS, Editor FrontPageGolf
Frank Thomas, industry consultant and former Technical Director of the
USGA, has been critical of this rule change saying, “They [the USGA] have
made a game that is already hard, harder. Making rules for a fraction of one
percent of golfers is wrong.”
The USGA acknowledges that is exactly what they meant to accomplish but
to apply it only to the best golfers and according to a press release, “The
changes are designed to reduce spin on shots played from the rough by
highly skilled golfers, and thereby restore the challenge of shots played from
the rough to the green. This should result in an increase in the importance
of driving accuracy.”
USGA, has been critical of this rule change saying, “They [the USGA] have
made a game that is already hard, harder. Making rules for a fraction of one
percent of golfers is wrong.”
The USGA acknowledges that is exactly what they meant to accomplish but
to apply it only to the best golfers and according to a press release, “The
changes are designed to reduce spin on shots played from the rough by
highly skilled golfers, and thereby restore the challenge of shots played from
the rough to the green. This should result in an increase in the importance
of driving accuracy.”
Briefly, since the USGA failed to
stop the equipment makers
from producing vastly improved
drivers and balls resulting in
what the rules makers consider
unacceptable driving distance
increases by PGA Tour
professionals the Association
decided to make it more difficult
to generate spin on approach
shots.
stop the equipment makers
from producing vastly improved
drivers and balls resulting in
what the rules makers consider
unacceptable driving distance
increases by PGA Tour
professionals the Association
decided to make it more difficult
to generate spin on approach
shots.
At last week’s PGA Merchandise Show two topics dominated many
conversations with the first being the Tiger Woods debacle. His fall from
grace and his return to the PGA Tour was discussed endlessly with a
significant minority raising the question of “if he will return” rather than
“when.” However, since speculation is at best only grist for tabloids, the
second and less sensational topic was the controversy over the groove
change imposed on short irons.
conversations with the first being the Tiger Woods debacle. His fall from
grace and his return to the PGA Tour was discussed endlessly with a
significant minority raising the question of “if he will return” rather than
“when.” However, since speculation is at best only grist for tabloids, the
second and less sensational topic was the controversy over the groove
change imposed on short irons.
The logic being that, especially from the rough, the ball would be harder to
stop on the green. The method chosen was to decrease the allowable size
of grooves on medium and short irons with an attendant dulling of the
groove edges. Using the new grooves less spin is imparted to the ball so
though it may hit the green there is a greater chance of it being unable to
stop and running over. A neat solution but it doesn’t take into account
amateur golfers just the 1,000 or so touring professionals around the world.
stop on the green. The method chosen was to decrease the allowable size
of grooves on medium and short irons with an attendant dulling of the
groove edges. Using the new grooves less spin is imparted to the ball so
though it may hit the green there is a greater chance of it being unable to
stop and running over. A neat solution but it doesn’t take into account
amateur golfers just the 1,000 or so touring professionals around the world.
In other words to keep tour players from hitting it so far take the driver out of
their hands, make them hit a lesser club in order to keep it in the fairway.
But what about the rest of golfers who don’t play with that level of skill?
Dave Pelz, short game guru famous for his analytical approach to
instruction, said in a recent interview, “The USGA study that was used to
justify the groove changes said amateurs only hit greens 1.8 times per
round in regulation so the groove rules won’t effect them. What’s true is
every amateur eventually hits all the greens so the grooves do effect their
shots.” The study further noted 70% of amateurs use balls with Surlyn
covers which don’t spin nearly as much as those covered with Urethane
used by professionals. This was interpeted as providing rationalzation to
mandate a less effcient groove…amateurs won’t see the effect.
Now this all seems to be spiraling up to a new level. PGA Tour journeyman
Scott McCarron responding to the use of pre-1990 Ping EYE2 wedges by
world number two Phil Mickelson said, “It’s cheating and I’m appalled Phil
has put it into play.” Use of Ping wedges was grandfathered as a result of
the successful Ping lawsuit against the USGA 20 years ago. McCarron’s
statement and the reaction to it has pushed the groove controversy on to the
front page although McCarron now denies he called Mickelson a cheater,
just that he’s cheating when using the old EYE2 wedge.
Mickelson may not let this die. According to Pelz and Alan Shipnuck on Golf.
com there were strong words last summer between Mickelson and Dick
Rugge, current USGA Technical Director, over Roger Cleveland-designed
Callaway irons meeting all the new groove rule specifications which were
deemed, “conforming but not allowed.”
Like Alice once said, it just gets curiouser and curiouser.
their hands, make them hit a lesser club in order to keep it in the fairway.
But what about the rest of golfers who don’t play with that level of skill?
Dave Pelz, short game guru famous for his analytical approach to
instruction, said in a recent interview, “The USGA study that was used to
justify the groove changes said amateurs only hit greens 1.8 times per
round in regulation so the groove rules won’t effect them. What’s true is
every amateur eventually hits all the greens so the grooves do effect their
shots.” The study further noted 70% of amateurs use balls with Surlyn
covers which don’t spin nearly as much as those covered with Urethane
used by professionals. This was interpeted as providing rationalzation to
mandate a less effcient groove…amateurs won’t see the effect.
Now this all seems to be spiraling up to a new level. PGA Tour journeyman
Scott McCarron responding to the use of pre-1990 Ping EYE2 wedges by
world number two Phil Mickelson said, “It’s cheating and I’m appalled Phil
has put it into play.” Use of Ping wedges was grandfathered as a result of
the successful Ping lawsuit against the USGA 20 years ago. McCarron’s
statement and the reaction to it has pushed the groove controversy on to the
front page although McCarron now denies he called Mickelson a cheater,
just that he’s cheating when using the old EYE2 wedge.
Mickelson may not let this die. According to Pelz and Alan Shipnuck on Golf.
com there were strong words last summer between Mickelson and Dick
Rugge, current USGA Technical Director, over Roger Cleveland-designed
Callaway irons meeting all the new groove rule specifications which were
deemed, “conforming but not allowed.”
Like Alice once said, it just gets curiouser and curiouser.
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